Spies just the latest example of the coal industy’s underhand tactics

Phil Laird

News that the coal industry has paid spies to infiltrate peaceful coal protests at Maules Creek is just the latest example, in a long list, of unethical behaviour and poor community relations that have become the hallmark of the coal industry.

We've had it all; powerful National Party lobbyists, illegal political donations, allegations of false and misleading information, and now corporate spies.

My mother, who is in her late 70s and has attended parish services all her life, was prevented from going to her local church on Good Friday by police road blocks, purportedly put in place to stop coal protestors accessing the Maules Creek site.

Why she could not be waved through to attend a religious service is beyond me and many others who live under siege from coalmining interests hell bent on flattening a forest to put in a mine.

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The local community has indicated its concerns and desire to protect the Leard Forest and surrounding farmland from inappropriate mining, but our voices have been lost in the clamour of bulldozers and the ring of the mining company’s cash registers. Even our right to challenge the merits of the coalmine in court was taken from us.

Our community has been divided by an industry that does not need to dig up a forest. Daily we see reports of coalmines laying off hundreds of workers, and yet here in a unique and environmentally sensitive woodland in north-west NSW, clearing is going ahead as if the future of the nation depended upon it.

It is winter in the Leard Forest, a time of hibernation for the many threatened species that live in this special place. It is a time when bulldozers should not be anywhere near this woodland.

But the bulldozers are rolling in, smashing down the rare box trees, crashing their way through the nests and tree hollows, and trampling over the burrows that provide safe resting places for the forest animals.

Anyone witnessing this destruction could not fail to be moved. For local farmers, the hibernating bats most at risk of injury and death from the mine are the animals we rely on to help control insects in our crops – they are a crucial part of integrated pest management strategies.

Farmers and locals, many of whom have voted conservative all their lives, are being treated in a most appalling manner. They are being blocked from going about their business, intimidated, and even spied upon. Our crime is simply to attempt to protect our water resources, way of life and our connection to the environment.

Local farmers, including my family, have been pushed to the status of second-class citizens under a system that protects a mining company’s desires to dig up coal over existing viable agricultural industries and an endangered woodland.

The protest at Maules Creek has been non-violent and open. If the coal industry wants to know our plans, then perhaps they could engage with the protectors rather than send in undercover security agents to ingratiate themselves around the camp fires and attempt to lull the knitting nanas, students, farmers and other honest, passionate and trusting people into letting so-called secrets out of the bag.

The coal industry’s tactics read like a poorly written Cold War novel and leave us all wondering what sort of future we will have if these companies get their way. Already we have witnessed shameful behaviour by the coal industry in its relationships with government and its attempts to subvert the electoral funding laws played out in the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing room.

Our democracy is built on fair play and the right to protest. Those at Maules Creek are bringing worldwide attention to the protection of an endangered woodland and rich farmland and, now, to the bullying tactics of the coal industry in Australia.

We are Australian citizens yet are being spied upon by an industry which has so much money it thinks it can do what it likes with our system of government, our people, and our right to speak up against a wrong.

Phil Laird is the national co-ordinator of the Lock the Gate Alliance. A farmer and landholder from Maules Creek, near Narrabri in north-west NSW, his family have been farming the area for 160 years, and the Leard State Forest is named after his forebears.

33 comments so far

This article is both inspiring and depressing. Inspiring, in that we have people who are prepared to stand up for things they believe in, and depressing because it's another example of the growing corporate control over our society.Ban corporate political donations, and the world might just improve a bit...

Commenter

Peter

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 4:29AM

Yep....it's an depressing that auss govs appear to represent corporates, and other dodgy characters that make appearances at icac....

The ordinary aussies appear to have lost control to a type of marfia-corp mob mentality, that is intent on lining their own pockets....

This is very sad cause i don't think some city folk understand that if they get away with this, they will try and get away with things that will affect the city too.

As the article points out the wiping out of insects etc in native areas has a huge effect forever on cropping and growing food. in auss.....the wiping out of some native bees has already effected many farmers, because the native bees were responsible for pollinating many crops, and fruit trees, as well as native plants, the native animals feed off across Australia..

Commenter

Crispin

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 8:59AM

There is only one real barrier against vested interests trampling over people and what we value, and that barrier is an engaged, active citizenry. Ultimately, we can, when sufficiently united, resist the most powerful of corporate interests and the most apathetic or corporate owned politicians.

We still have the final say and it is simply a matter of holding fast, being of steadfast resolve and determined to be heard and counted. We must be recognised as being a people who, 'are not for turning' and who will not be bought, cajoled or intimidated. How many ordinary, peaceable citizens, young, old, conservative, progressive, politically neutral, rich or poor, city or country, can a government arrest or bully in the name of standing up for a corporate interest? How many grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, with children riding shotgun on their shoulders or prams to the fore can a police force intimidate? I suggest, very few to nil. No government can stand in the face of a broad spectrum of ordinary citizenry willing to lock hands together and form a solid physical barrier to its foolery.

It can be easy to leverage public opinion against so called 'greenies', those people who stand up and say 'no' to the ravaging of parts of our country that most of us have either never heard of or who know little or nothing of the natural value. They're often unkempt and dirty from camping out and holding fast in remote areas. Consequently, it isn't hard for governments /vested interests to paint them as extremists to a generally apathetic, uninformed public. When these trailblazers are joined by the rest of us however, governments are unable to malign the cause because to do so is political poison and suicide. Citizens united will not be defeated.

Commenter

Warwick

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 9:00AM

The ethics of economic activity needs addressing.for instanceAll enterprises should be fully costed- instead, journalists simply report the supposed dollar 'value' of a project, usually based on what its spruikers tell them. To fully cost something, not just benefits but also disbenefits must be included.

What price a forest - jobs for a few for a few years:a rich biodiverse forest lost for ever.

Is there a genuinely democratic politician anywhere willing to stand up for the people's demand: a calmer but sustainable economy that looks after its environment?

Commenter

what price a democratic economy?

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 9:30AM

Greenpeace have organised an emergency petition to try to stop the bulldozing of the Leard State Forest now while the animals are hibernating, anyone who cares about the welfare of these farmers and the rare and endangered animals of this forest is very welcome to sign the petition

https://www.greenpeace.org.au/action/?cid=72&src=SHTW1

Commenter

havasay

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 10:34AM

And union donations too....all contributions should be by individuals and also should be capped. And there should be term limits, restrictions on lobbying and greater disclosure. The corruption of Western democracies has taken an awful turn in the last 50 years. Votes don't count, dollars do.

Commenter

luke r

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 11:12AM

At the Sydney rally yesterday to halt the Leard Forest mining project the director of the Nature Conservation Council said there were 11 sacred Aboriginal sites in the Leard Forest and 5 have been destroyed already by Whitehaven Coal.

What sort of society (/government) do we have that places money over irreplaceable Aboriginal sites, unique forests and endangered species?

Why did the government approve landclearing in winter when many species are hibernating?

People want renewable energy, protection of forests and the wildlife therein, and deregistration of companies that engage in shady business practices like sending spies into protest groups.

Commenter

Diane

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 4:44AM

Guess what Dianne, you can't have renewable energy without mining. How are you going to manufacture those solar panels without digging up the raw materials? Totally agree with you on the aboriginal sites and the clearing in winter. As for the spying, it is no more shady than some of the actions of protesters. Both sides do what they can to further their own interests, you cannot judge one without the other and consider yourself fair.

Commenter

Shaking Eagle

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 9:44AM

What makes this even worse is that the coal is not for our own well being, it is just shipped off to China. We get no benefit at all from this vandalism of nature.

Commenter

luke r

Date and time

June 05, 2014, 11:14AM

It doesn't matter which spectrum of the political scene we elect to power, all politicians are dazzled by the short term glitter of mining. Pre election promises to save or preserve particular areas from destruction are worthless. Discussion or "consultation" is constantly one sided in favour of supposed jobs and fairy tale provision of infrastructure. Dollars dissipate far too swiftly and I despair that we are handing on to our grandchildren a truly barren land.

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